We demonstrated the sensitivity of optically active single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) with a diameter below 1 nm that were homogeneously dispersed in cement composites under a mechanical load. Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) was selected as the dispersing agent to achieve a homogeneous dispersion of SWCNTs in an aqueous solution, and the dispersion state of the SWCNTs were characterized using various optical tools. It was found that the addition of a large amount of DNA prohibited the structural evolution of calcium hydroxide and calcium silicate hydrate. Based on the in-situ Raman and X-ray diffraction studies, it was evident that hydrophilic functional groups within the DNA strongly retarded the hydration reaction. The optimum amount of DNA with respect to the cement was found to be 0.05 wt%. The strong Raman signals coming from the SWCNTs entrapped in the cement composites enabled us to understand their dispersion state within the cement as well as their interfacial interaction. The G and G’ bands of the SWCNTs sensitively varied under mechanical compression. Our results indicate that an extremely small amount of SWCNTs can be used as an optical strain sensor if they are homogeneously dispersed within cement composites.

The objectives of this study are to examine the genetic variation and the origin elucidation in oriental fruit flies (Diptera:Tephritidae) using DNA barcode, in prepartion for their future introductions into Korea. About 1,600 specimens of B.dorsalis sp. complex and B. correcta were collected from 10 countries, the Indochina peninsula, the Philippines, Taiwanand South China. A total of 182 cytochrome c oxidase I (COI) sequences were obtained and aligned from these regionalspecimens. Three chinese sequences from the GenBank reference were also included. Six hundreds base pair fragmentswere aligned and trimmed and used for a barcode. The phylogenetic tree was generated using the neighbor-joining methodwith 1,000 bootstrap replicates. There were two distinct groups in the phylogenetic tree, Bactrocera dorsalis sp. complexand B. correcta. Three specimen, intercepted in the hand-carried mango at the airport inspection and collected in the confiscatedmango, smuggled from Vietnam were included for a test. The DNA sequences from the airport were 100% identical toone of various Vietnam specimens, and that from the confiscated mango was mostly similar to those of Vietnam, suggestingthe usefulness of the barcode for elucidating the origin of oriental fruit fly.

The family Epermeniidae is a small group, comprising 188 described species with 11 genera in the world. In Korea,the family Epermeniidae has only one described species, Epermenia strictella (Wocke, 1867) to date. In this study, thenewly recorded genus Ochromolopis Hübner, 1824 was reported with Ochromolopis kaszabi minima Budashkin & Satshkov,1991 which is a subspecies of Ochromolopis kaszabi Gaedike, 1973 for the first time from Korea. For the exact identificationamong the species, the DNA barcode was conducted with a brief phylogenetic tree by COI gene. All the available informationincluding distributional ranges and host plants were provided in this study. Also, The images for adult and male andfemale genitalia were provided for the taxonomic study.

Volvariella volvacea is mainly cultivated in subtropics area like South-East Asia. Because it is cultivated in rice straws, it is called a straw mushroom. That mushroom grows well in high temperature about 30~38°C and high humidity. Straw mushroom is a homothallic mushroom, so it is difficult to identify whether the offspring is different from the parents. This study was carried out to investigate RAPD primers that can be used for identification the DNA polymorphism of Volvariella volvacea genetic resources. 9 strains were collected from various countries like China, Vietnam etc. When ITS regions of their DNA were analyzed, they proved to be Volvariella volvacea. A cultivation test was conducted to measure the morphological characteristics of them 2 strains, KMCC04380 and KMCC04382 were selected for breeding resources because the mycelium of them grew well on medium and fruiting bodies were formed quickly. The Universal PCR Fingerprinting kits(UPF primers) were used to confirm the genetic polymorphisms of the 2 strains. As a result of confirming the DNA bands, 2 of 12 primers could be used to genetically distinguish 2 strains. About 50 spores were isolated from their fruiting bodies respectively and they also will be confirmed DNA polymorphisms by using UPF primers.

Occurrence spontaneous mushrooms in eastern Jeju Muryeongarioreum, Sillyecheon-Iseungak, Kyoraegotjawal, Geomunoreum were examined in 2016. The collected mushrooms were classified by 15 order 56 family 149 genera 317 species. Among the collected mushrooms, 87 species of mushrooms were successfully incubated in mushroom complete medium in which DNA of 25 species were completely extracted and amplified using universal primers ITS1 (5’-CTTG GTCA TTTA GAGG AAGT AA-3’) and ITS4 (5’-TCCT CCGC TTAT TGAT ATGC-3’). Four species of them were differently identified between the classification by morphological observation and by analysis of DNA sequences i.e. by morphological identification Ganoderma applanatum, Armillaria gallica, Macrolepiota procera and Trametes gibbosa were identified as G. gibbosum, A. cepistipes, M. detersa and T. elegans by analysis of DNA sequences, respectively. Based on these results both identification ways might be necessary for correct classification of mushrooms. On the other hand, among the collected 317 mushrooms, 48 species could be identified to genus but not to species by the morphological observations. However, by the analysis of DNA sequences, 15 species were identified to species in which 6 species were unregistered mushrooms in Korea. Therefore, the analysis of DNA sequence may be useful to identify the mushrooms which are difficult to recognize by morphological observation.

A karyotype analysis of five wild rose species (Rosa helenae, R. mulliganii, R. multiflora, R. rubus, and R. solieana) was performed using bicolor fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH). All five species were found to be diploid (2n = 2x = 14). The chromosome length in the metaphase stage ranged from 1.29 to 2.05 μm in R. helenae, 3.32 to 6.82 μm in R. mulliganii, 1.58 to 2.24 μm in R. multiflora, 2.05 to 3.46 μm in R. rubus, and 1.62 to 2.46 μm in R. solieana. The chromosomes were either metacentric or submetacentric, with no subtelocentric or telocentric chromosomes being observed. Each p air of 5 S and 4 5S rDNA sites was detected at the proximal region of the long arm and the terminal region of the short arm of chromosome #7, respectively.

Fludarabine, a chain terminating anti-cancer drug, is a purine analogue that causes DNA strand breaks in normal cells. In this study, we determined if A. melanocarpa and Korean red ginseng extract mixture reduce cytotoxicity of fludarabine. Treatment of HaCaT cells with 10 μM of fludarabine for 24 hours decreased cell viability and increased DNA strand breaks. Treatment of A. melanocarpa and Korean red ginseng extract mixture for 24 hours increased cell viability as compared with single extract treatment. The protective effect of these extracts on cell activity increased in a concentration-dependent manner. DNA strand breaks induced by fludarabine decreased as concentration of extract mixture increased. p-H2AX level, a marker of DNA strand breakage, decreased depending on the concentration of extract mixture. The effect of mixed extract of A. melanocarpa and Korean red ginseng on DNA damage is due to the anti-oxidative effect of A. melanocarpa and signal transmission through glucocorticoid receptor upon binding of saponin of Korean red ginseng.

For preliminary molecular typing, PCR-based fingerprinting using random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) is the method of choice. In this study, 14 bacterial strains were isolated from different Korean food sources, identified using 16S rRNA gene sequencing, and characterized through RAPD-PCR. Two PCR primers (239 and KAY3) generated a total of 130 RAPD bands, 14 distinct PCR profiles, 10 polymorphic bands, one monomorphic band, and four unique bands. Dendrogram-based analysis with primer 239 showed that all 14 strains could be divided into seven clades out of which clade VII had the maximum of seven. In contrast, dendrogram analysis with the primer KAY3 divided the 14 L. citreum strains into four clades out of which clade IV consisted of a maximum of 10 strains out of 14. This research identified and characterized bacterial populations associated with different Korean foods. The proposed RAPD-PCR method, based on sequence amplification, could easily identify and discriminate the lactic acid bacteria species at the strain-specific level and could be used as a highly reliable genomic fingerprinting tool.

For preliminary molecular typing, PCR-based fingerprinting using random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) is the method of choice. In this study, 14 bacterial strains were isolated from different Korean food sources, identified using 16S rRNA gene sequencing, and characterized through RAPD-PCR. Two PCR primers (239 and KAY3) generated a total of 130 RAPD bands, 14 distinct PCR profiles, 10 polymorphic bands, one monomorphic band, and four unique bands. Dendrogram-based analysis with primer 239 showed that all 14 strains could be divided into seven clades out of which clade VII had the maximum of seven. In contrast, dendrogram analysis with the primer KAY3 divided the 14 L. citreum strains into four clades out of which clade IV consisted of a maximum of 10 strains out of 14. This research identified and characterized bacterial populations associated with different Korean foods. The proposed RAPD-PCR method, based on sequence amplification, could easily identify and discriminate the lactic acid bacteria species at the strain-specific level and could be used as a highly reliable genomic fingerprinting tool.

DNA-based markers have been used in various fields like molecular biology and crop breeding program. DNA marker is able to be used for protection of genetic resource and quantification of specific cultivar. Eleven DNA markers have been developed for Korean wheat cultivar identification in 2013-2014. 27 of 32 wheat cultivars were distinguished by 11 DNA markers. In this study, we developed four DNA markers, KWSM0012, KWSM0013, KWSM0014 and KWSM0015, derived from SSR and SNP analysis. Consequently, 32 Korean wheat cultivars were identified by 15 DNA markers. We are convinced that these new DNA markers are very useful for wheat varieties DNA fingerprinting and are able to be applied to marker-assisted selection in wheat breeding program in Korea.

As diethylnitrosamine (DEN) effect on cell proliferation, DNA damage and stem cell marker(s) expression have been largely unknown in mouse normal hepatocytes (AML-12 cells) cultured over a short-term period, this study was conducted to examine the cell proliferation, Ataxia telangiectasia mutated (ATM) and epithelial cell adhesion molecule (EpCAM) and Neighbor of Punc E 11 (Nope) expression in AML-12 cells treated with DEN for 24 and 48 h. Cells were treated with DEN (25-800 μg/mL) and cell phenotype was determined, and the MTT assay was used to quantify the proliferation of cells treated with DEN. Expression and distribution of ATM in AML-12 cells were determined by indirect immunofluorescence microscopy. And Western blot analysis of EpCAM and Nope was performed. Cell viability was significantly increased in response to all doses of DEN treatment compared to control at 24 h (p<0.05 or p<0.01). However, there was no significant increase at 48 h, even though it showed increased trend. Immunofluorescence staining of ATM showed that there was an increase of ATM expression at doses of 50, 100 and 200 μg/mL of DEN treatment, showing strong nuclear staining. Furthermore, Western blot analysis showed that DEN treatment showed increased trend of EpCAM and Nope expression. Taken together, DEN treatment increased cell proliferation in AML- 12 cells, and it was associated with increased ATM expression.

The acetyltransferase Tip60 (Kat5) is a member of the MYST family of HATs that was initially identified as a cellular protein. TIP60 acetylates histone and non-histone proteins, and is involved in diverse biological processes, including apoptosis, cell cycle, and DNA damage responses. In this study, a specific inhibitor of TIP60, Nu 9056, was used to study the function and its regulatory mechanism of Tip60 in the porcine preimplantation embryonic development. The results showed that inhibition of TIP60 impaired the embryonic development due to induce DNA damage through ATM-p53-p21 pathway, it was evidenced by expression of γH2A in the nuclei of blastocysts. In addition, TIP60 inhibition decreased efficiency of DNA repair by regulating P53 binding protein 1 expression. Furthermore, autophagy was induced following TIP60 inhibition through modulating microtubule-associated protein 1A/1B-light chain 3 expression. In conclusion, the results suggest that TIP60 plays a critical role in early embryonic development via regulation of DNA damage and its repairs.

Ionic liquids (ILs) are organic salts with low melting point by asymmetric ionic strength between cation and anion. They have been known as promising DNA extraction, separation and preservation agent due to their hydrophilic, hydrophobic interaction with DNA. However, few studies have been performed about how DNA-ILs complexes form and their mechanism. Herein, we present three types of ionic liquids (EMIM-Cl, BMIM-Cl, and OMIM-Cl) change the DNA structure depend on alkyl chain length of ionic liquids. Structural changes of DNA by ionic liquids are observed by Atomic force microscopy, gel electrophoresis, zeta potential and solid-state nanopore technology. The results of AFM show the different structures of DNA, including aggregate, stretching, and bundling shapes in terms of EMIM-Cl, BMIM-Cl, and OMIM-Cl respectively. In DNA translocation experiment, DNA/EMIM-Cl show rare translocation signal due to aggregated structure by neutralized surface charge. DNA/BMIM-Cl and DNA/OMIM-Cl show slowing down the translocation speed due to changes of DNA net charge and structure. Especially, OMIM-Cl make slowing down the DNA translocation speed about 102~104 times compared to translocation speed of bare DNA by unzipping the bundling shape of complex. In conclusion, the morphology of DNA could be modified by the incorporation with different alkyl chain length of ILs, providing their further application in nanopore technique for slowing DNA sequencing or understanding protein-DNA interaction.

Having conducted numerous research and survey projects, Korea National Arboretum (KNA) has been a centre for Korean insect diversity researches in South Korea for about a decade since its first step as the first national biological collection was taken in 2003. Those projects mainly focused on specimen collection through various surveys and classical taxonomic studies on rather limited taxa. Holding slightly more than 6,000 species in our collection now, we consider it is time to take another approach that will keep insect researches going and expanding its boundary although it seems a little bit late to follow an international trend. The approach we are about to follow is a DNA barcode blitz, which aims for rapid digitization and sequencing of insects. With an integrated system of insect taxonomy we may provide faster and more reliable identification service to the public and other related biological and ecological studies. Digitized morphological and molecular data can be used in various ways such as forest insect pest monitoring, climate change related monitoring, and reverse taxonomic study.

The Japanese oak silkmoth, Antheraea yamamai Guérin-Méneville 1861 (Lepidoptera: Saturniidae), is one of the important natural resources possessing industrial value for silk fiber production. In this study, ten microsatellite markers and two mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) gene sequences (COI and ND4) were used to investigate the genetic variation and geographic structure of A. yamamai populations in South Korea. Two mtDNA gene sequences revealed very low total genetic variation and resultant low geographic variation, validating to use further variable molecular markers. Population-based FIS, FST, RST, and global Mantel test consistently support that A. yamamai populations are overall well interconnected with a relatively high gene flow. Nevertheless, STRUCTURE analysis using microsatellite data and mtDNA sequences coincidently indicate the presence of two genetic pools in many populations.

The objectives of this study are to examine the genetic variation in oriental fruit flies (Diptera: Tephritidae) and to use it as a barcode for the origin elucidation, in preparation for the their incursions into Korea. About 1,600 specimens of B. dorsalis sp. complex and B. correcta were collected from 10 countries, the Indochina peninsula, the Philippines, Taiwan and South China. A total of 182 cytochrome c oxidase (COI) sequences were obtained and aligned from these regional specimens. Three sequences from the Genebank reference were also included. Six hundreds base pair fragments were aligned and trimmed and used for a barcode. The phylogenetic tree was generated using the neighbor-joining method with 1,000 bootstrap replicates. There were two distinct groups in the phylogenetic tree, Bactrocera dorsalis sp. complex and B. correcta. Three specimen, intercepted in the hand-carried mango at the airport inspection and collected in the confiscated mango, smuggled from Vietnam were included for a test. The DNA from the airport were 100% identical to that of one of various Vietnam specimens, and that from the confiscated mango was mostly similar to those of Vietnam, suggesting the usefulness of the barcode for the origin elucidation tool of oriental fruit fly.

The blueberry gall midge, Dasineura oxycoccana (Johnson), is a serious insect pest of blueberries and cranberries in North America. which was firstly found and identified on blueberris in Sanju-city, Gyeongsangbuk-do, Korea. For epidemiological investigation of this pest, DNA barcoding and microsatellite markers were used. First, mitochondrial COⅠ(658 bp) was analyzed with 292 D. oxycoccana individuals, which were 163 individuals from 32 regions in 25 counties, Korea and 102 individuals from 10 regions in 4 states, USA and 26 individuals from USA, Canada and UK in GenBank. Genetic distance of seven individuals from Cheonan and two from Bonghwa was 10.5% and that of two individuals from Sunchang and New Jersey was 16.6%, which are considered to be different species within the genus Dasineura. Second, population genetics of 632 D. oxycoccana individuals 29 locations was analyzed using 12 microsatellites newly developed by next-generation sequencing. The results showed that some of the populations in Korea genetically close to those in USA. Fst of Hweongseong, Bonghwa, Jeju populations compared to remaining local pops. were ranged from 0.15 to 0.24, whereas average Fst between Georgia, Michigan, and New Jersey pops. were 0.14. The origins of Hweongseong, Bonghwa and Jeju populations were assessed as Michigan, Florida (southern part of Georgia), respectively.

Dendrolimus superans (Lepidoptera: Lasiocampidae) has long been acknowledged to present in South Korea under the circumstance of a substantial change in species names of Dendrolimus. In the present study, we found that specimens of D. superans collected from South Korea were D. sibiricus, rather than D. superans. Comparison of Korean specimens to the D. superans from Japan and the D. sibiricus from Russia in terms of wing morphology, female and male genitalia, a partial COI gene sequence, and a partial internal spacer sequence 2 (ITS2) consistently supported the presence of D. sibiricus in South Korea. Phylogenetic analyses using concatenated sequences of COI and ITS2 from available individuals of D. sibiricus and D. superans both by Bayesian inference and maximum likelihood methods the Korea samples to be D. sibiricus.